Electric furnace.



No. 869,432. PATENTED OCT. 29. 1907.

Y G. GIN.

ELECTRIC FURNACE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 25,- 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

faz/e ya@ I www PATENTED OCT. 29. 1907.

G. GIN.

ELECTRIC FURNACE.

APPLIUATION FILED un. z5. 190s.

2 BHEBTS-SHBET 2.

GUSTAVE GIN, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

ELECTRIC FURNACE.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 29, 1907.

Application sied January 254906. serai Nofzszsss.

To all whom it may concern:

Paris, France, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in an Electric Furnace.

The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in electric furnacesfor use in the manufacture of steel.

In my improved furnace there is effected simultaneously and uninterruptedly the several operations which occur inthe production of steel, to wit, fusion, oxidation of impurities, reduction of the dissolved oxid ofiron, and carburization.

The accompanying drawing shows a furnace embodying my improvements.

In this drawing F'gure 1 is a central longitudinal sectional vieWvof my improved furnace. Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section showing the furnace in an inclined position, and Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view.

The furnace is essentially" composed of three parts: lst, a Crucible I for melting and oxidizing; 2nd, a compartment 2 for dioxidizing dissolved oxids and carburization; 3rd, a finishing or refining chamber.

The electrodes of the first compartment are connected to one of the terminals of a source of electricity and the electrodes of the second and third compartments are connected in parallel to the other terminal. The current passes from the electrodes to the metal through a bath of slag forming superficial resistance and in which the caloric action of the current is produced. The baths or compartments are connected by the passages 'B whose section is sufficiently reduced to prevent the metal becoming or remaining solid by reason of the .Ioule effect.

The compartments are provided With linings which` are suited to the work of said compartments. The portion of the floor and walls of the oxidation compartment l which is always in contact with the metal is constructed of basic or acid material according as the p metal to be refined contains or is free from phosphorus,

but the part coming in vContact; with the slag should be composed of neutral material as chromite of iron for example.

In the compartments 2 and 3 magnesia is preferably employed for the floor and surfaces which are'not in Contact with slag, and chromite f iron for the upper parts.

In order to start the furnace, the liquid steel or iron is introduced through the orifice A and flows into the three compartments; or scrap iron may be placed on the fioors of the compartments and pieces of iron inserted in the passages B. The current is then turned on and the substances which, after fusion will.form the supercial baths in which the Joule effect is produced,are gradually put in.

4iron or scales.

The oxidizing bath of compartment l is composed of ore or slag rich in oxid of iron, to which lime is added,` when the metal to be refined contains phosphorus. The baths of compartments 2 and 3 are neutral and only slightly reducible by carbon. lime and magnesia, obtained by fusion of bauxite with limestone and dolomite give good results, and the addition of fluorspar renders them more fusible andA more fluid.

The furnace operatesas followsrln the oxidizing compartment `the zone of the most intense heat is naturally close to the surface of Contact of the metal with the slag, and it is here that the reduction of the oxids at the expense of the Silicon, manganese and carbon of the metal bath takes place The reaction is more or less rapid according to the proportion of reducible oxids, and manifests itself by an eddying agitation of the bath which stirs 'up the metal and facilitates oxidation by constantly renewing the surfaces of contact. The oxidizing action is kept up and its intensity and rapidity regulated by a careful introduction of oxid of In consequence of circulation, the metal refined in compartment l passes into the coinpartment 2 where the reduction of the dissolved ferrous oxid and `the carburization of the metal takes place. These two operations are effected simply by the introduction of carbon in the form of colte and of fused supercarbureted iron prepared in an electric furnace in the presence of a great excess of carbon. The

carburizating required to produce the final composition of the steel takes place in compartment 3, from which samples are taken for tests, the assay of which samples shows the quality of steel obtained and indicates the additions necessary to correct any imperfec- .the steel is preserved from all oxidizing action because it is not in contact with the atmosphere, and is only in contact with neutral slag. Besides, this slag under the action of high temperature and of the carbon present, furnishes a small quantity of aluminium which becomes diluted in the steel bath and absorbs the oxygen in no matter what form it may be present. The charging of the solid materials and the expulsion of the surplus slag is effected through the gates C, and the running Off of the steel` through the tap-hoi@ D whichis situated at a certain heightabove the base. The furnace is held in a metallic frame which is mounted to be tilted or oscillated upon two crowns of rolls which move along guides having concave sections. The tilting may be effected by means of a'hydraulic cylinder H arranged to reciprocate a rod secured to the exterior frame of the furnace. l

Referring to drawings, it can be readily seen how the Aluminates of y in its turn so that the metal of the oxidation compartment cannot pass into the second compartment.` The furnace is then returned to its normal position, and

compartment 1 charged with scrap iron or pig iron. At this time the three compartments are on a level,

but as the scrap or pig iron is not yet melted, the metal which passes from compartment l to compartment 2 has been already refined and contains no other appreciable impurity than the dissolved oxid 6i iron which disappears during its passage through the two carburization compartments.

It might be apprehended that during the work the impure metal of compartment 1 might mix with the refined metal of compartment 2, but there is no cause for such apprehension because the currents of diffusion in the molten steel in the process are almost exclusively in the form of little vertical Whirlings or eddies, whose effects are almost m'l in a horizontal direction. However to insure perfect results, I'have placed between compartments 1 and 2 a vertical chamber which opens into the passage between compartments 1 and 2, and into this I introduce an ingot of steel E, which, while it does ,no t entirely close the passage, will suiiice to prevent the mixture of the contents oi compartments, 1 and 2 so long as the baths remain level. If,

,however a difference o level occurs, the metal contained in the fullest compartment will merely pass into Ythe one less full and equilibrium will 'be rapidly restored. Moreover, and this is an important point,the

bar E opposes only a slight resistance to the passage of the current. Naturally this bar melts gradually and sinks in thevchannely so that it must be replaced when necessary by another bar. l

It can thus be seen that the successive operations described are independent and may succeed each other in continuous rotation, particularly'as the materials retain to all intents and purposes the temperature of reduction, because the capacity of the compartments is such that the volume poured'out at each tapping represents only a fraction oi the metal present.

Furthermore, the metal oxidized in compartment 1 passes on to compartment 2 withoutcarryingiwith it any trace of slag, which precludes the subsequent in'- corporation of impurities into the refined metal.

lHaving described my invention, .I claim:

2. An electric furnace comprising a plurality of reaction chambers, and provided with a means of communication between two of.' said chambers, said furnace being further provided with a vertical passage extending downward from the top of said furnace and opening into the said means of communication, a bar of solid steel disposed. within said vertical passage land extending within and partially closing the said means ot communication between the said chambers, substantially as and for the purpose specified. y

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set-my hand in presence offtwo witnesses.

' GUSTAVE GIN.

Witnesses:

Louis Parrmtor, HANsoN C. Coxn. 

